There is some kind of obsessive GDS poster on several threads. I would disregard all of it.

Come back if your kid actually gets into Sidwell.

When we looked at both for early middle school, we went with Sidwell based on DS's personality. There were two factors - Sidwell provided a somewhat calmer environment, which was better for a kid who is easily drawn into excitement when he should be working. And while both offered the opportunity for phenomenal academics, GDS was a little more on the offering side, while Sidwell does a little more gentle pushing. For a slightly more self-directed 10-year-old, GDS could have been our top school, and DS ended up with many friends at each school (now in HS).

Anonymous wrote:For you, GDS absolutely the best choice...

Are Sidwell people behind this resounding endorsement of gds?

For you, GDS absolutely the best choice...

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:GDS seems to be the "it" school right now.

Funny, but we just went through K admissions last year and that was not our experience. We live in close in MoCo and people from our area pretty much did not apply to GDS due to location. Sidwell is here in Bethesda, and many people went as far into the city as Beauvoir or Maret, but GDS was really a stretch. I believe that is is an amazing school, and much of this may change when the campuses unite in Tenleytown, but it definitely wasn't the "it" school for us, FWIW.

For a long time GDS has had a great reputation, but it seems its stock is definitely rising because of all the buzz about the expanded Tenleytown campus and their enviable record in getting their students into Harvard, Stanford and other Ivies.

Anonymous wrote:GDS seems to be the "it" school right now.

Funny, but we just went through K admissions last year and that was not our experience. We live in close in MoCo and people from our area pretty much did not apply to GDS due to location. Sidwell is here in Bethesda, and many people went as far into the city as Beauvoir or Maret, but GDS was really a stretch. I believe that is is an amazing school, and much of this may change when the campuses unite in Tenleytown, but it definitely wasn't the "it" school for us, FWIW.

GDS seems to be the "it" school right now.

It's such a personal decision. I second the PP who said that, should you be accepted at both, take advantage of all of the events and shadow days for DS and you to get a full picture.

Please choose GDS!

Depends if your child wants to attend Yale or Harvard

Very similar in lots of ways (as you've already seen). Honestly, just wait and see what happens, and if your child gets into both take advantage of the many post-acceptance opportunities for your child to explore both schools more closely.

The parents of your kud's future friends just began not inviting you to birthday parties.

Anonymous wrote:Stop. Just stop. Your child is "quite competitive?"

There is no reason to be asking this question now.

In DC some people just like to plan ahead for all eventualities. Each school is probably the closest substitute for the other.

Stop. Just stop. Your child is "quite competitive?"

There is no reason to be asking this question now.

If you had the choice, which school would you choose? While acceptance letters are still months away, we believe that DS is quite competitive for both and we have applied him to both. Assuming that he and we have a choice, I would be interested in hearing other recommendations, particularly from those who were in the position of choosing among acceptance offers. DS is applying to a lower school grade, but would it make any difference if it were middle or upper (high) school levels? We are Jewish but our initial assessment is that DS would feel comfortable in either school environment. Geography is a wash because we are in Upper NW DC, so both Palisades and Bethesda campuses are about the same for us.